01
die Freude
joy
A strong, positive feeling of happiness and satisfaction.
example
Die Freude über das bestandene Examen war riesig.
The joy over passing the exam was enormous.
die Freude
joy
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
'Die Freude' (joy) belongs to a word family with the reflexive verb 'sich freuen' (to be happy/look forward to) and the adjective 'freudig' (joyful). All of these words express a positive feeling.
EXAMPLE
Ich freue mich schon auf das Wochenende.
I am already looking forward to the weekend.
Important prepositions
The prepositions are crucial: 'Freude über' (+ accusative) describes the reaction to a specific event. 'Freude an' (+ dative) describes a more lasting pleasure in a thing or activity.
EXAMPLE
Die Freude über das Geschenk war groß.
The joy over the gift was great.
Typical collocations
Common combinations are 'große Freude' (great joy), 'wahre Freude' (true joy), or 'diebische Freude' (malicious delight). You can also 'empfinden' (feel), 'spüren' (sense/feel), or 'zeigen' (show) joy.
EXAMPLE
Es war eine wahre Freude, ihr beim Spielen zuzusehen.
It was a true joy to watch her play.
Dative construction
In the fixed expression 'jemandem eine Freude machen' (to make someone happy), the person who receives the gift or nice gesture is always in the dative.
EXAMPLE
Ich möchte dir mit diesem kleinen Geschenk eine Freude machen.
I would like to make you happy with this small gift.
Compare with
Freude vs Glück
happiness / luck
'das Glück' and 'die Freude' both describe a positive feeling. 'Glück' is often a deeper state of contentment or a strong positive feeling about life. 'Freude' is often a feeling in a specific situation, for example about a piece of news, a gift, or a meeting. They can be confused because joy can be part of happiness. In practical terms: 'Freude' fits better with a specific occasion, while 'Glück' fits better with a strong or general feeling.
Freude
Die Freude über die gute Nachricht war im ganzen Team zu spüren.
The joy over the good news could be felt throughout the whole team.
Glück
Nach der Geburt ihres Kindes fühlte sie großes Glück.
After the birth of her child, she felt great happiness.
In real life
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